Sensex extends gains, up 138pts; HDFC soars 7%

The Sensex is now up 138 points at 9,847. Earlier in the day, the index opened 37 points higher at 9,746, but soon slipped into red to a low of 9,546.

Ranbaxy has zoomed over 8% to Rs 179. HDFC has soared 6.5% to Rs 1,502.

DLF has surged over 4% to Rs 174. Reliance Communications and Mahindra & Mahindra has rallied 3.7% each to Rs 181 and Rs 397, respectively.

Tata Power has moved up 3.3% to Rs 791. Reliance Infrastructure and Infosys have advanced 2.6% each to Rs 529 and Rs 1,359, respectively.

ICICI Bank, ONGC, Tata Steel and Reliance are up over 2% each.

Sun Pharma have slumped over 4% to Rs 1,066. Hindustan Unilever has shed 2.6% at Rs 232.

Tata Motors and BHEL have dropped around 2% each to Rs 176 and Rs 1,477, respectively.

Grasim and NTPC have declined 1.7% each to Rs 1,550 and Rs 177, respectively.

The market breadth is extremely positive - out of 2,273 stocks traded so far, 1,623 have advanced, 577 have declined and 73 are unchanged.